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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you would still have had your children if...

123 replies

nanbread · 08/06/2019 20:20

You had known then what you know now about the environment / climate change?

I had my DC before the last couple of years when reports from the UN etc have come out about unsurvivable conditions, the end of civilisation etc within maybe 30 years, us having 12 years to do anything about it. And seeing the subsequent reactions from governments worldwide which can be summarised as giving zero fucks.

Knowing what I know now, despite how my children are my life and I couldn't love them more, I doubt whether I'd have had children (they're still young). I feel so scared about what they will face in their lifetime and guilty about bringing them into it.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 08/06/2019 20:22

Yes

timeforakinderworld · 08/06/2019 20:22

Me too.Sad

PatchworkElmer · 08/06/2019 20:23

I just can’t wish DS away, if that makes sense, and I’d feel guilty even thinking about a scenario in which we didn’t have him. BUT we were planning on having more children, and will now absolutely not be doing that- climate change is a huge factor in our decision.

DuploTower · 08/06/2019 20:25

We don't know for sure...

Yes it's a scary thought. But almost every child there ever was - was born into a world or situation full of frightening uncertainty.

OwlinaTree · 08/06/2019 20:25

No I wouldn't have not had them. I think we have to do something about the environment but I don't see me personally sacrificing the opportunity to have a family is going to make a difference. We need global cooperation and legally binding changes to make any difference, which I do support.

In terms of bringing them up through an apocalypse, well with nuclear bombs around that's always been a possibility.

tomtom1999xx · 08/06/2019 20:25

I don’t know anyone who thinks about the environment/ climate change when deciding about having children. And I’m afraid I’m one of them.

PotteringAlong · 08/06/2019 20:27

Yes.

hidinginthenightgarden · 08/06/2019 20:29

Yes. Our second is adopted so I don't feel bad at all about having 2 kids. I can't say the environment had any impact on our decision to adopt though.

ReganSomerset · 08/06/2019 20:30

Yes. And I plan on another.

BelulahBlanca · 08/06/2019 20:30

Yes.

darjeelingisrank · 08/06/2019 20:30

No, but not because of the environment.

22Giraffes · 08/06/2019 20:32

Yes.

Raffles1981 · 08/06/2019 20:32

I definitely think it affected my decision and I took longer than I should have deciding. I felt odd writing in my DS1 baby book that Theresa May was the PM and Trump was another leader. It's a bizarre world we live in, but I would not have stopped me having a child. One and done, but not because of the world. We are in a very rural place and we lead an idyllic life. We can only do our best.

missmouse101 · 08/06/2019 20:33

No I would not. For environmental reasons and many others.

dreygrey · 08/06/2019 20:33

Yes, I can't imagine live without children.

oblada · 08/06/2019 20:33

I can't imagine making that decision based on the environment. So I would still have all my children. Let's see what the future holds.

janetforpresident · 08/06/2019 20:33

Its funny you should ask because i was thinking about this today.

Yes I think i would because I think I just can't believe we won't somehow turn this around. We have to act and act fast but I think somehow we will.

Our government gives zero fucks but not all governments are the same. I am hopeful that at the next general election this will be a key issue on any manifesto. I just hope we have one soon.

janetforpresident · 08/06/2019 20:35

Well actually I know I would.

BishopofBathandWells · 08/06/2019 20:38

I would have still had her, but the future terrifies me and I struggle quite a lot at the moment with the thought that I might not be around for my DD at what could potentially be "the end".

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 08/06/2019 20:41

"The end of civilisation within 30 years"... where have you read that Hmm? Was it a scenario rated as being relatively unlikely?

In answer - yes, because I believe the human race will survive longer than that. There may be huge changes but there have before (ice age etc...). The fact that might kids might have a very different life to me doesn't fill me with such panic as to think I wouldn't have wanted to have them at all.

StillMedusa · 08/06/2019 20:45

Yes . Mine are grown ups now and 22 years ago (today!) when the youngest was born we didn't know the horrors we are now facing.
I think if I were planning a family now I would limit it to two, but I would still have children.

Bumper1969 · 08/06/2019 20:45

No.

Notabedofroses · 08/06/2019 20:46

Yes

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 08/06/2019 20:47

Yes I had DS six months ago. I'm mid thirties and we've known about the severity of climate change's impact at least since I was at primary school, so I think it's a bit of a comfortable story to say you didn't know having children would have an impact on the environment. Unless you just thought it was ok because it was far enough in the future to not affect you, and now you know it will. Either way YABU. This is essentially a snide dig at anyone who has had children recently or is planning to. What's the carbon footprint on the journey to that pedestal OP?

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 08/06/2019 20:47

Probably yes but I often wonder/worry about it. I hope my children don’t have to live through the horror some are predicting.